Why the Interview Is the Foundation of Good Journalism

No matter how thoroughly you research a story online, there is no substitute for a direct conversation with a knowledgeable source. Interviews reveal nuance, contradiction, emotion, and context that documents and databases simply cannot capture. Developing strong interviewing skills is one of the highest-leverage investments a journalist or content creator can make.

Before the Interview: Preparation Is Everything

The quality of your interview is largely determined before you say hello. Underprepared journalists ask generic questions and get generic answers. Thorough preparation allows you to go deeper, catch inconsistencies, and pursue unexpected threads.

Before every interview:

  • Research your source. Read their previous interviews, published work, LinkedIn profile, or public statements. Know their background and perspective.
  • Understand the subject matter. You don't need to be an expert, but you need enough fluency to ask intelligent follow-up questions and recognize when an answer is incomplete.
  • Write your questions in advance. Prepare more questions than you'll need. Organize them from broad and warm-up to specific and probing. Never go in with just a vague topic in mind.
  • Clarify logistics. Confirm the time, format (phone, video, in-person), and whether the conversation is on the record, off the record, or on background.

Opening the Conversation

The first few minutes set the tone. Start with easy, open-ended questions that allow the source to speak comfortably. This serves two purposes: it puts the source at ease, and it helps you understand how they communicate — which tells you how to ask your harder questions.

Avoid yes/no questions in an interview. Instead of "Did you find the process difficult?" ask "What was the most challenging part of that process for you?"

Techniques for Deeper Answers

Skilled interviewers use a handful of core techniques to go beyond surface-level responses:

The Pause

After a source finishes speaking, wait a beat before responding. Most people feel compelled to fill silence — and what they add is often more candid than their prepared answer.

The Follow-up

"Can you say more about that?" and "What do you mean by that exactly?" are two of the most powerful questions in journalism. Use them liberally.

The Hypothetical

When a source is reluctant to engage with a direct question, a hypothetical can open the door: "If that policy had been in place at the time, how do you think it would have changed the outcome?"

The Challenge

Don't accept assertions uncritically. Respectfully challenge claims: "You say the program was successful — by what measure?" This isn't adversarial; it's accountable journalism.

Active Listening vs. Following the Script

Your prepared questions are a roadmap, not a script. The best interviewers listen more than they talk, and they're willing to abandon their question list when a source opens an unexpected and valuable door. If a source mentions something surprising, follow it — your best material often comes from these unplanned threads.

Note-Taking and Recording

Always ask permission before recording a conversation. If recording isn't permitted, develop a system for efficient note-taking — abbreviations, symbols, and shorthand that let you capture quotes accurately without losing eye contact. After the interview, review and expand your notes immediately while the conversation is fresh.

Closing the Interview

End with two reliable questions: "Is there anything I haven't asked that you think is important for people to understand?" and "Is there anyone else you'd recommend I speak with?" The first often yields unexpected insights; the second helps you build out your source network organically.

Strong interviewing is a skill that improves with deliberate practice. Every conversation is an opportunity to refine your technique and deepen your ability to draw out the stories people carry with them.